Learning Loss in Arabic and Mathematics among Grades 1–4 Students in Jordan: Teachers’ Perspectives from Koura District

Learning loss has become a critical educational issue affecting students’ acquisition of foundational skills, particularly in the early grades. This study aimed to explore the reality of learning loss in Arabic language and mathematics among lower basic stage students, Grades 1–4, in Koura District, Jordan, from the perspectives of basic stage teachers, and to identify possible ways to address it. The study adopted a qualitative case-study approach. Data were collected through structured interviews consisting of three main questions with related sub-questions. The participants were 15 male and female teachers working in public basic schools in Koura District. The collected data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed a substantial level of learning loss among lower basic stage students, particularly in essential Arabic language skills, including letter recognition, reading, spelling, word and sentence reading, and understanding basic linguistic patterns and grammatical structures. In mathematics, learning loss appeared in students’ difficulties with number recognition, number discrimination, number writing, and basic arithmetic operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The findings also indicated that some lower basic stage teachers had limited experience in using modern technological tools in teaching. In addition, the results showed that the Jordanian Ministry of Education had adopted several measures to address learning loss, including extending the academic year by two weeks in each semester, administering diagnostic tests, and developing remedial plans for the first three grades. The study recommends providing workshops and training courses for lower basic stage teachers on diagnosing and addressing learning loss, as well as conducting further studies to examine the effectiveness of proposed strategies for reducing learning loss across different school subjects.